NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 519
Submitted by Norman Giller
While Ange Postecoglou sits on a beach waiting to hear his fate, Sue Webb sits in her wheelchair with the news that she is the new Spurs Odyssey Quiz Queen. She is a treasure of Tottenham, who rarely misses a game home or away despite a handicap that this mum of two dismisses as "a bloody nuisance."
Yes, of course she was in Bilbao for a triumph that Ange's Army celebrated deliriously and, take note PSG, peacefully.
A former journalist and local newspaper editor, Sue is now studying social care as a senior student at Uni while keeping a close watch on the worlds of hockey, athletics and, most of all, Spurs. She has flirted with our Spurs Odyssey Quiz League for many years but gave it her full attention this season to become our second female champion.
She follows in the footsteps of our omniscient actuary Emily Hadjinicolaou, who was the first woman winner of the Spurs Odyssey Quiz League, and one of more than twenty contestants this year who got within a couple of my selections for Tottenham's 10 greatest Premier League captains, in 1-2-3 order.
Sue, from Cambridgeshire via the Tottenham territory of Hoddesdon, was first out of the hat to agree with the following list that matched my choices:
1. Gary Mabbutt
2. Ledley King
3. Michael Dawson
4. Sol Campbell
5. Hugo Lloris
6. Heung-Min Son
7. Harry Kane
8. Jamie Redknapp
9. Teddy Sheringham
10. Robbie Keane
Sue also agreed - along with 70% of you - that Steve Perrryman was the outstanding English-born pre-Premier League skipper between 1950 and 1990. Others who got support were Alf Ramsey, Alan Mullery and Graham Roberts.
It's a triumph not only for Sue but also her constant companion and loyal husband Dean, who shares all the complex transport logistics with his wife as they perform minor miracles getting to and from Tottenham matches.
She joins the exclusive club of champions: David Guthrie (Wokingham) 2015, 2018 and 2023, Glenn Scarcliffe (Hampstead) 2016, Edward Benson (New York) 2017, Graham Eyre (New South Wales, Australia) 2019, Emily Hadjinicolaou (Reigate) 2020, Peter Lawton (Israel) 2021, David Matthews (Cheshunt) 2022 and Jonathan Fellows (Staffordshire) 2024
Our new title holder will be rewarded with a framed certificate confirming her as the 2025 Spurs Odyssey Quiz League champion, plus three of my books: The One and Only Jimmy Greaves, Spurs '67 and The Footballing Fifties, introduced by Jimmy Greaves.
Thank you all those who took part, and I know several of you will be fuming with me for some of my choices. But please remember it's all for fun and keeps you on the tip of your toes with Tottenham topics.
Meantime, our triumphant manager Ange Postecoglou is still waiting to hear if his lifting of the Europa Cup in Spain has saved his job. All sorts of rumours are flying on line that he has been axed, with Brentford's Thomas Frank, Fulham's Mark Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola said to be in the frame to replace him.
None of the people I have read stating that Ange is out have the ear of Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chief holding the Greek/Australian's fate in his hands.
I personally would give him until Christmas to prove he is the right man to take Tottenham forward, but those 22 Premier League defeats are hovering over him like a guillotine.
Whoever is in charge has the minor job in August of getting Spurs prepared to face new European champions PSG in Paris in the showdown for the Super Cup.
That's if the powers-that-be allow the match to go ahead after the horrific riots in Paris that followed PSG's dismantling of Inter-Milan in the Champions' League final. How would those hooligans have reacted if PSG had lost to the Italians?
I wonder who will be in charge when my Spurs Odyssey blog returns on the eve of next season? The one certainty is that we will have a new Quiz Queen. Take a bow, Mrs Webb!
Summer well. COYS!
